📰 Midleton RFC Monthly Newsletter
August 2025 – Edition #1
Welcome to the first edition of the Midleton RFC Monthly Newsletter!
We’ll be using this as a regular way to keep all our players, parents, coaches, and supporters up to date with fixtures, results, events, fundraising, and general club news.
Big thanks to everyone who has helped put this together — and if anyone would like to get involved in future editions, please reach out at MidletonrfcPRO@gmail.com.
📲 ClubZap Launch
Since the committee agreed to launch ClubZap last month, a huge amount of progress has been made. By now, most of our teams are up and running on the app, with over 300 users and counting across the club.
We hope you’re finding it easier and better than WhatsApp groups. It will make communication across the club smoother, safer, and more centralised.
A massive thanks to all coaches and team managers who have helped with the rollout — your support has made adoption a success.
To download the app, you can visit: https://dashboard.clubzap.com/download?club_id=6363. Get in contact with your coach or team manager to add be added to a senior, youth or mini rugby team group.
📝 Membership – Register Now for the New Season
It’s really important that all players and coaches are registered ahead of the new season. Parents and general members are also welcome to sign up as club members. Options available for stage payments along with discounted family memberships.
Registration ensures insurance cover, supports the running of the club, and keeps everyone connected. Contact Club Registrar Ken McCarthy on 0868153721 with any queries.
👉 To register on Sportlomo, follow this link: https://irfu.sportsmanager.ie/sportlomo/registration/member-registration/club/2477
Please get your membership completed as soon as possible so we can start the season fully organised. Under no circumstances can an unregistered player play a match.
🏉 Rugby is back - Training started for Adults, Youths and Mini Rugby!
Pre-season training is now in full swing across senior and youths teams. A big thank you to the organisers, managers, parents, and coaches for the hard work behind the scenes, as well as everyone who keeps the grounds in such good condition.
Mini Rugby returns next Saturday 6th at 9.30am for all boys and girls born between 2014 and 2020.
Each team will have their own Clubzap group for communication.
All updates (fixtures, training times, events) will go out via Clubzap.
To register your child, you can:
- Message us on Clubzapp
- Contact us through social media
- Or speak directly to our Minis/Youths Coordinator, Michael Andrade or ask for one of our coaches below;
Year Born | Age Grade | Coach
2020, 2019, 2018 | U6s, u7s, u8s | Damien
2017 | u9s | Andrew
2016 | u10s | Ed
2015 | u11 | Des
2014 | u12s | Jeff
🎓 Coach Development – Train the Trainer Course
This Monday 1st Sept in the clubhouse at 6.30pm, we’re delighted to welcome Michael Pettman, Rugby Consultant and Coach with Munster Rugby. He’ll be running a Train the Trainer course, open to all coaches in the club.
📌 No need to register - open to all coaches or aspiring coaches across the club to attend.
This is a great opportunity to upskill, share knowledge, and prepare our coaches for a strong season ahead.
🔴⚪ Youths Players Representing Munster & South Munster
It has been a proud summer for the club with so many of our underage players involved at representative level:
- U17 Girls: Julie Moynihan, Roisin Cullinane (captain), and Kate Falvey, along with Pearl Philips (Youghal RFC)
- Munster U18 Girls: Elena O’Brien (captain)
- South Munster U16 Boys: Ben McCarthy, Darragh Tobin, Sam Morris, Carthach O’Leary
- Munster U18s & Ireland U18 Rugby League: Sam Douglas
A fantastic achievement for all involved — players, coaches, parents, and volunteers. You are a credit to Midleton RFC!
✍️ Senior Men’s Team
New Signings
The senior men’s team have added a number of exciting new faces for the 2025/26 season:
- Ted Coleman – outhalf (NZ)
- Jack Nesdale – back row (NZ/Ireland)
- Seamus Lyne – fullback (UL Bohs)
- Shane O’Driscoll – prop, former Munster U20s & Midleton youth player (returning player)
- Evan Chester – hooker (Dolphin)
- Alejandro Martínez Jiménez - wing, (Spain)
- Watch this space...
These signings, alongside several promising U18.5 and U20 players stepping up, will strengthen the squad as we push for promotion out of 2C.
Head Coach Robbie Doyle said:
“We’re very happy with the squad at the moment. The lads have trained well over the summer, and we’re excited to see what the new signings bring to an already strong playing group.
Midleton has a strong tradition of bringing through its own players, I’ve been very impressed with some of the lads coming up from the underage section both in pre season training and the recent tour to Brussels. It's a testament to the great work being done by our underage coaches in the club."
With new S&C coach Adrian O’Brien on board, the squad is in great shape heading into the new season
✈️ Senior Team Tour to Brussels
Our senior squad travelled to Brussels in August, playing two fixtures on tour. It was a great success both on and off the pitch. Our 2nds team were honours even in a game against Rugby Club Leuven while our 1sts claimed their first victory of the season against Boitsford RC. With over 35 players involved it was a great hit out to blow the summer cobwebs off.
📅 Looking Ahead
The Seniors take on Muskerry in Towns Park at 6pm on Sat 30th in a preseason friendly. The following Saturday 6th we pay host to Thomond in the first round of the Munster Senior Cup (time TBC).
The first AIL game of the season takes place on Saturday, 27th September vs Bruff. Fixtures for underage and minis will also be starting up — stay tuned to the Clubzap and our social media channels for the latest updates.
💶 Fundraising & Club Events
We’ve got three major fundraisers running or in the pipeline — your support makes a huge difference to the club:
🎟️ Split the Bucket
Our weekly Split the Bucket draw is going strong with a guaranteed winner every week!
- Draw takes place every Thursday
- Just €2 per entry
- You can enter weekly or for the full year
👉 Enter here: Split the Bucket
🏉 Autumn Series Ticket Raffle
Be in with a chance to win x2 tickets to see Ireland v Australia or Ireland v South Africa in the Autumn Series. Other prizes include Munster kits, and spot prizes.
- Draw on Saturday, 27th September at our first AIL home game vs Bruff
👉 Get your tickets here: Autumn Series Raffle
🍽️ Fota Business of Sport Lunch
We’re planning to bring back our sellout Business of Sport Lunch in Fota this Christmas following the success of last seasons event. - Thursday, 18th December is currently on hold (with 4th December also available)
- Speakers to be announced soon with some exciting and entertaining names involved again this year!
- Sponsorship and table bookings will open shortly
If your business would like to book a table or sponsor the event, please reach out to a committee member.
⛰️ Tom & Mags’ Hike
Tom and Mags Mulcahy climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for MND Research and it was a huge success, raising over €6,000 and drawing fantastic support across social media and within the community. Well done to both!
🙌 Want to get involved?
If any members would like to help with events, fundraising, or general support around the club, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact any committee member for more information.
That’s it for this first edition — thanks for reading!
Here’s to a brilliant season ahead for everyone at Midleton RFC.
